Duchess Dementia

Steel Realms

Attributed Author: Duchess Dementia is a full work that takes the reader down a path of tests to their Sanity to lay claim to power. It was said to have initially pioneered and documented by a duchess of ___ in the Fallen East, whose name is lost.

Initial Appearance: A tattered tome of red leather. The last sighting recorded it with a broken spine.

Item Origins/Purpose: To reveal profound truths through purifying madness.

SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE: Reference works and basic exposure alone may only provide the foundation for gaining a [mechanics based] advantage. To reflect the practice and experience to gain that benefit consistently, typically requires a cost in Character Points.

Aella’s Sight – Ritual of ‘Eye Opening’

Aella may have been the duchess of whom the memory of the tome is bound to. In this frenzied dance in the darkness, the black garmets of the dancer are lit alight by the single candle as the centerpiece to the ritual. They will burn away the darkness, and open the eyes of the Ritualist.

Smyo Pa – Ritual of Emrigga’s Call

The burning away of all reason, bias, preconceptions and accepted ‘facts’ that reveals the truth beyond fixed rationale and limits of accepted norms and restraint. Emrigga‘s will is called forth to test the caller, who petitions for the truth they seek. Her answer is irrefutable in its form and function. There is a song at the end, a poem of “The Yellow Sign” about a queen, urged to abdicate her Rulership of the city of Carcosa. The song goes on, and on, seeming to keep writing further lines.

There are documented cases of her ritual of invocation actually working and imparting to the practitioner knowledge that takes years, obscure knowledge, or even secrets of forbidden knowledge.

The cult of Delleth, The Seeker, stands in vigilance to dissuade those hoping to “pass through the gates of madness on the road to enlightenment”.

The Burning Words:

Testimony of the Burning Words

These ritual texts include the warning of the thousands who failed and were driven mad in the process. This is written in scrawled, shaky script as if by a witness whenever the Ritual of Emrigga’s Call is performed and those performing it succumb to the consuming madness.

Chronicle of Duchess Dementia

Item Powers (common and Attuned) can be found under Common Knowledge tab.

Knowledge is broken down by ease of discovery/availability & Meticulous Record Keeping may improve usability; Any attempt to know more than what's Pervasive will require a reference, source, knowledge, check, or access to someone who can get or provide either of these. Specific Lores may increase the chance of knowing specific elements.

Common Knowledge / Easy Difficulty

Item Purpose:

Lesser Attunement (1 Essence total )

i20™ Item Details

Aella’s Sight: The Ritualist will take 8+d8/4 fire damage, reducing immunity to resistance and resistance to nothing. The Thematic Emphasis is +2; In addition, they must sacrifice a point of Sanity.

iCore iCore™ Item Details

Estimated Value: ? (Silver Crowns)

Item Source: i20™ OR iCore™ #YYYY

Scarce Knowledge / Hard Difficulty

A Ritual for Power Against the Lich Lords: The Men of Ver

Rare Knowledge / Very Hard Difficulty

A Ritual Bound to a Blade: See Albans’ Answer.

Warning
Obscure/Hidden Knowledge is not generally available in known references; It is not necessarily Forbidden.
DO NOT READ BEYOND THIS POINT unless a character has the capability to gain such knowledge [through association, organization, or relation] if they do not possess it themselves or the reader intends to participate in scenarios using this material as a PLAYER! GM Narration will typically provide relevant information by check or story.

Literary References

Realm's Aptitude Powers: Divine, Occult, and Psychic